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This is like holding a Winter Games in Miami Beach. There is no snow, except up in the Caucasus Mountains. There are palm trees. The grass is green, although I did see one woman spray painting the grass in the Olympic village.

And the temperatures – it was 48 degrees today and it’s supposed to be in the 50s the rest of the week.

While Lillehammer, Norway was a frigid snow globe, Sochi is more like Northern California in the fall. This is a rare portion of Russia that lies in a subtropical climate zone. There’s rain – I’m told there was a lot of it before we arrived – but snow in these lower altitudes is rare.

This morning, Star contributor Jo-Ann Barnas walked me around the little town nearby, and within minutes, I was taking off my coat. There are several nice markets (with beer and vodka, which I purchased, of course) and several small bars and restaurants within a 10-minute walk of our accommodations. I’m sure they’ll be doing a brisk business while the world’s media are here.

Also walked down to the Black Sea right behind our complex. It is not, in fact, black. But you knew that.

My only problem: My Visa card was declined at the little market, so that’s something I’ll have to address at some point. It’s the Olympics; they only take Visa, I thought. If worst comes to worst, I’ll get lots of rubles. Thirty-plus rubles to an American dollar, since you asked.

Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star. Call him at (317) 444-6643 or email bob.kravitz@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BKravitz.